Getting into LotR-Modding tutorial

"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
Gandalf, in J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Shadow of the Past"

Sometimes it's a little push which brings players into the world of modding. Some beneath you might want to help your favourite development team at their modding projects while others might think about starting an own modding project. There can be multiple motivations behind it, be it that you want to try yourself in being creative or want to learn a new software or skill. Scripting is one of those skills, Scripters are always welcomed hearty to bring in their workforce, mapping another one. For those of you who want to give it a try, I list you today some guides for Battle for Middle-earth, Battle for Middle-earth II and Battle for Middle-earth II: Rise of the Witch King, so you can challenge yourself at getting involved into the beautiful hobby of modding.

Basic Modification Guide

The purpose of this document by Meneldil is to explain some basic methods for modifying BFME 1. Essentially, this is a guide for mod making principles that use only existing artwork. Examples are provided to illustrate key concepts.

EA Guide for World Builder - BFME2 Map Design & Beautification Tips

This document is intended to show the philosophy and theories behind why we do what we do. Understanding the concepts in this guide will enable you to solve general problems with maps and help your maps look better, play smoother, and be more fun!
It is useful for both new and experienced mappers. The document was created specifically for BFME II, however a lot does still apply to the original BFME.

Extended Guide to Mapping

This guide to mappingby _Haldir_ is a compilation of many great mapping tutorials and resources that can be found on the Third Age website (www.the3rdage.net), and also includes tips and advice of the author that he has developed through his own mapping.

This tutorial has been put together to hopefully be a definitive reference for all beginner (and more experienced) mappers. This is largely for BFME 1, although much of it still applies to BFME 2. This is also mainly for multiplayer/skirmish maps, although there are some basic info on scripting included. The focus here is on gameplay and visual aspects.

How to make an EA Quality Map

This tutorial by m@tt which will follow the process of building a map, step by step, so others can see what it really takes. Whilst scripted maps are popular, the author will be focusing just on the visual and gameplay aspects, i.e. how to make a skirmish map that is EA quality.

Fudge's Scripting Test Area

These tutorials are aimed at providing you with experience in scripting some of the most important aspects of any story based mission (from a group of enemy units attacking you to a cinematic) in bite-sized chunks that can be undertaken without causing you to curl up into a ball and cry for sweet relief - as the author did many times when he was leaning through EA's campaign scripting.

The last two guides are from MattTheLegoman. He noted that they aren't great or complete but they cover brand new information.

Guide to Clouds and Macrotextures

This is a guide to changing the cloud textures, macrotextures and ambient lighting of your RotWK map. It is a BfME Worldbuilder tutorial.

How to Fix Your Map

This topic is WIP as Matt compiles and finds more ways to fix a broken map.